“No other single container terminal in North America has the ability to expand berth capacity at this rate,” said Lynch. Currently, Savannah’s Garden City Terminal is equipped to handle two of these vessels and by April of this year that number will increase to three.

During his presentation titled “2019: The Triple Crown?” Lynch told an audience of 350 logistics professionals that the Port of Savannah had just last week achieved the busiest month ever in its history, moving 433,975 TEUs, a whopping 28 percent jump over the previous year.

Over the next five years, the Authority plans to add another 21 Neo-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes, replacing 14 of its older models to bring the total fleet to 37. Dock upgrades are already under way to support the new, larger machines.

The Savannah market is also seeing significant private development. Over the past 24 months, private investors have added 9 million square feet, to bring Savannah’s total industrial real estate market to 60.6 million square feet. The rate of construction has since accelerated, with another 9.2 million square feet of industrial space now under construction.

“The Savannah market outpaces its peer group for warehouse demand. One of Savannah’s strong suits is that within a 30-mile radius from Gate 4 there is still a real deep inventory of industrial sites and parks that have very effective access to and from Garden City Terminal,” said Blaine Kelley, senior vice president in the global supply chain practice of industrial real estate firm CBRE. “Not surprisingly, it really all starts with the ports infrastructure, the access to global markets, the capacity for long-term growth, and the proximity to the immediate and regional customer base.”

Kelley took part on a GFTC panel titled, “What Are the Key Challenges to Site Selection Today?”, along with Chris Schwinden, vice president of Site Selection Group and Alan Erera, professor of Supply Chain Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Allgood added that regardless of the volumes the ports handle month to month, the Authority remains true to its plan to have the long-term interests of customers in mind. “Our beacon is our customers’ needs,” Allgood said. “As long as we always keep that first, we’re going to do well.”

In addition to the ship-to-shore cranes GPA is adding, a dozen new rubber-tired gantry cranes will bring the number Garden City Terminal’s container handling cranes to 158. Ten RTGs will be commissioned in July, another two in September. Phase I of the Mason Mega Rail project will be complete in October 2019. Full completion a year later will double the Port of Savannah’s rail lift capacity to 1 million containers per year. In late 2021, the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is slated for completion, delivering the deeper water necessary to better accommodate the larger vessels now calling on the U.S. East Coast.

Schwinden said GPA’s continuous investment aids economic development in Georgia. “The most competitive states and communities are making strategic, proactive investments in transportation infrastructure to ensure they can stay ahead of ever-accelerating corporate and consumer demand,” said Schwinden, who specializes in industrial location and economic development. “In Site Selection Group’s view, Georgia is one of those competitive states that is making those critical investments in transportation infrastructure.”

Find print-quality images of port operations here. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com.

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The south side of Colonel’s Island at the Port of Brunswick features an additional 400 acres permitted for development. Find print quality images here. (Georgia Ports Authority / Stephen B. Morton)﻿

VERTICAL INTEGRATION AIDS SUPPLY CHAIN EFFICIENCY

SAVANNAH, Ga., Feb. 4, 2019 – At the Georgia Foreign Trade Conference today, Stuart Countess, chief administrative officer and vice president of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, announced that the Telluride, its new 8-person SUV, will begin crossing the Port of Brunswick’s docks for global markets this month.

“The launch of the Kia Telluride, our largest and most refined SUV to date, will be a monumental achievement for KMMG,” said Countess. “From the support we receive from GPA with our inbound parts from our global supply chain to supporting our export of finished vehicles to current and future markets, GPA will play an important role.”

Through vertical integration – parts in via Savannah, autos out via Brunswick – Kia takes advantage of Georgia’s extensive road and rail infrastructure, as well as its broader network of shipping line services.

“Kia has been a valued customer for the Port of Savannah since 2009, when KMMG first began producing vehicles for the domestic U.S. market in West Point, Ga.,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch. “Their decision to export the Telluride via Brunswick highlights the benefits of having North America’s largest container port and largest autoport within 85 miles of each other. Georgia provides the total package when it comes to auto manufacturing and global distribution.”

Countess, Mark Boucher, director of vehicle logistics for the Volkswagen Group of America, and Gerry Lee, vice president of planning and logistics for Subaru of America, took part in the GFTC automotive panel, titled “What Challenges Does the North American Auto Industry Face in 2019?” One of the keys to success, the experts agreed, is a reliable and cost-efficient supply chain.

Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga receives parts from the Port of Savannah and currently exports a small number of the Passat and Atlas models via Brunswick. Boucher said VW will soon launch a new version of the Passat and the company has “robust plans for delivering the Atlas to more than 30 export destinations in 2019.”

In addition, Boucher said the manufacturer was making an $800 million investment to manufacture and export electric vehicles by 2022.

Jay Johnson, intercontinental logistics specialist for Volkswagen, oversees the import of parts supplying the Chattanooga plant. “We continue to build our partnership as our needs change and as the GPA continues to add more logistic values by improvements at the Savannah Port, as well as adding the Appalachian Regional Port,” Johnson said. “GPA has proven over and over again through the years their ability to assist us on many hard and difficult occasions. We are thankful to have a partnership where sometimes you feel as if you are their only customer.”

Johnson added: “As a service provider, the Port of Savannah continually performs as an industry leader on many levels, especially when providing SSL Carriers, IT ability, discharge times, truck turn times and driver assistance. Their position on continual improvements assists our Chattanooga operations daily with a smooth, seamless supply chain.”

Lee said Subaru relies on the GPA to import its Forester, Crosstrek, WRX and BRZ models. “The Port of Brunswick is the right fit for Subaru’s vehicle supply chain because it is a great location to support the retailers in our Atlanta and Orlando sales zones.”

Another example of vertical integration among GPA’s automotive customers is General Motors’ Acadia. The Port of Savannah supplies GM’s Spring Hill, Tenn., plant and, starting this year, will export approximately 12,000 Acadia SUVs through Ocean Terminal.

The Georgia Ports Authority performs a similar service for the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Ala., with parts imported through Savannah and finished vehicles exported via Brunswick.

Find print-quality images of port operations here. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com.

SAVANNAH, Ga., Jan. 29, 2019 – The Port of Savannah moved 4.35 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in Calendar Year 2018, its highest annual volume ever, and a 7.5 percent increase over 2017, according to a report from Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch to the GPA Board Tuesday.

“The level of business Georgia has captured is a testament to the world-class service provided by our stevedores, ILA, pilots, other port stakeholders, and our partners at Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. “Georgia’s unrivaled connectivity to Atlanta, Memphis, Charlotte and beyond allows port customers to reach new and growing markets.”

In December alone, the Port of Savannah handled 351,366 TEUs, an increase of 8.7 percent, or 28,250 TEUs. It was the Authority’s busiest December ever, and capped a year with nine of the GPA’s 10 busiest months on record.

“The reason Georgia’s ports remain the fastest growing in the nation is because we are quickly adding capacity to our operations,” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. “The leadership model our ports and elected officials have put into place is forward thinking and works hard to build for the next wave of growth.”

Allgood said the ports made several strides in infrastructure development during the last year. In February, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed outer harbor dredging at the Port of Savannah, marking the midpoint of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. The federal government provided $101.12 million to continue SHEP construction this year, and inner harbor dredging is on track to start this year.

During the meeting, Lynch informed board members the expansion of Gate 8 had been completed, and will increase overall gate capacity by 16 percent, for a total of 56 lanes. The expanded gate will open next month.

In addition, the Authority has ordered 12 new rubber-tired gantry cranes to serve the Port of Savannah, bringing its fleet to 158. The first 10 new RTGs will arrive and be commissioned in July. Two will be commissioned in September. Construction on six ship-to-shore cranes slated to arrive in 2020 is now 45 percent complete. The new cranes will bring the Port of Savannah’s fleet to 36 and allow the port to increase big ship capacity.

The Port of Savannah handled its most ever containers by rail in 2018, moving 478,669 containers – approximately 860,000 TEUs – via Class I rail providers Norfolk Southern and CSX. The rail volume represented a 19 percent increase compared to 2017. To handle the additional intermodal volumes, GPA will complete Phase I of the Mason Mega Rail project in October of this year, and Phase II by October 2020. When complete, the project will double current rail capacity at Garden City Terminal from 500,000 to 1 million containers per year.

In Brunswick, autos and machinery increased by 6.4 percent (18,911 units) in the first half of Fiscal Year 2019 (July-December 2018) for a total of 315,611 units. At GPA’s Colonel’s Island, the single largest autoport in North America, expansion projects are under way that will double GPA’s rail capacity and significantly increase near-dock storage. The Authority also plans to develop another 400 acres to bring annual throughput capacity to 1.5 million vehicles in the coming years.

“Brunswick’s proximity to Southeastern dealerships and auto manufacturers, combined with its ability to reach important inland markets via CSX and Norfolk Southern, makes it the ideal autoport for import cargo,” Lynch said. “Nine ocean carriers serving our 1,700-acre terminal means Brunswick has the global connections to efficiently move exports, and the space to take on new business.”

December also closed the second quarter of the GPA’s fiscal year. For the first half of Fiscal Year 2019 (July-December 2018), the Port of Savannah moved 2.2 million TEUs, up 176,800 TEUS, or 8.6 percent. In total cargo, GPA handled 18.1 million tons for the first half of FY2019.

Find print-quality images of port operations here. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.

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Georgia Ports employees pose with staff from Savannah/Chatham CASA during the wrap-up of GPA’s gift drive for children under the care of Savannah Chatham Court Appointed Special Advocates. Find print-quality images here. (Georgia Ports Authority photo

Savannah, Ga. – December 13, 2018 – Employees of the Georgia Ports Authority helped make the holidays a little brighter for dozens of Savannah-area children Thursday.For the past 16 years, GPA employees have delivered wrapped gifts for youths in the care of Savannah Chatham Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). This year GPA employees provided gifts for 72 children.”The Georgia Ports is honored to take part in a program that helps children across our community who are in the most need of care and support,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. “Hopefully a small thing like a Christmas gift will remind children who may be going through difficult situations that their community cares for them.”Each GPA gift-giver sponsored a child by filling wish lists with holiday goodies. Gift suggestions included clothes, toys, dolls, bikes and games. Case workers at CASA supply the GPA with wish lists for children and youth of all ages.CASA volunteers stand up for the best interests of children who have been abused or neglected. Appointed by judges, they speak up for the child’s needs in the courtroom and community.”CASA is grateful for the ports who have sponsored more than 70 of our children this holiday season,” said Kate Blair Executive Director, Savannah/Chatham CASA. “Because of their generosity, the children we serve, will wake up to a Christmas morning they will never forget.”Holiday carolers from the West Chatham Elementary School Chorus added to the festive atmosphere Thursday.Throughout the year, CASA trains volunteers to help hundreds of children who have been removed from their homes and become entangled in an overcrowded juvenile justice and foster care system. The mission of the CASA program is to ensure abused and neglected children find a safe, permanent and nurturing home.Savannah/Chatham CASA is currently serving 185 children and the need is growing. In Chatham County during 2017, 325 children were in care. Now, just shy of 500 children are in care.For information about becoming a CASA volunteer, call 912-447-8908.

Find print-quality images of port operations here. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.

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At the Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal, 146 rubber-tired gantry cranes work the stacks at the nation’s largest single-operator container terminal. The Port of Savannah has moved 4 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in the first 11 months of the calendar year. Find print quality images here. (Georgia Ports Authority / Stephen B. Morton) SAVANNAH, Ga., Dec. 10, 2018 – The Georgia Ports Authority is on track to reach 4.36 million twenty-foot equivalent container units handled in 2018, its highest volumes ever in a calendar year. The performance would mean an increase of 8 percent (312,385 TEUs) compared to CY2017. “Cargo expansion related to growth in inland markets, as well as increased demand right here in the U.S. Southeast have shifted the global logistics arena in Savannah’s favor, with more port users choosing to serve their customers via Georgia’s deepwater terminals,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. For Calendar Year 2018 through November, the Port of Savannah has handled 4 million twenty-foot equivalent container units, up from 3.72 million over the same period last year. Containers currently booked for December will add approximately 362,000 TEUs to the annual total. The Georgia Ports Authority achieved 11.4 percent growth in container volumes in November, handling 344,506 TEUs last month, an increase of 35,359. With 151 vessel calls at the container port, Garden City Terminal averaged 1,322 container moves per vessel in November. It is the 25th consecutive month the GPA has posted positive year-over-year growth. “Every additional container we move means new business in trucking, rail and warehousing,” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. “The ripple effect of the success at Georgia’s ports means additional jobs and income coming to our neighbors and communities across the state.” Port officials predict brisk container business at the Port of Savannah moving into 2019. Several vessel calls were rescheduled from the end of November to the beginning of December. Combined with planned December trade, this should result in strong numbers to round out the year. Additionally, many carriers are expected to make above-average cargo exchanges in January ahead of the Chinese New Year celebration, which begins on Feb. 5. November was also a busy month for trade in autos and heavy machinery. The GPA handled 59,297 units of Roll-on/Roll-off cargo last month, an increase of 12,135 units, or 25.7 percent. Colonel’s Island Terminal at the Port of Brunswick led the growth, adding nearly 12,000 vehicles to its total from November 2017. “With the largest terminals in the nation for both container and Ro/Ro cargo, the ports of Savannah and Brunswick have a greater capacity to grow along with our customers,” Lynch said. “The result is superior reliability as port users build up their businesses to satisfy increasing demand across the Eastern U.S.”

Find print-quality images of port operations here. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com.

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GPA DETAILS PLAN TO DOUBLE BRUNSWICK CAPACITY TO 1.5 MILLION UNITS

Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch gives his Brunswick State of the Port address, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Lynch detailed expansion projects that will double the port’s auto rail capacity and allow Georgia to reach markets as far west as California with direct service. Today, the Port of Brunswick moves nearly 25,000 vehicles to points west of the Mississippi River, including Texas and California. Lynch said GPA expects the Port of Brunswick to become a national gateway for the import-export of autos, trucks and tractors. Find print quality images here. (Georgia Ports Authority / Stephen B. Morton)

“The Port of Brunswick achieved a solid performance across all cargo categories over the last fiscal year,” Lynch said. “As GPA adds new terminal space, we will expand our service area in the Southeast and beyond.”

During the event hosted by the Brunswick Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce, Lynch outlined a series of infrastructure projects that will increase capacity and provide new opportunities in Roll-on/Roll-off cargo handling. Over the next 12 months, GPA will add 60 dockside acres to the Ro/Ro operation. The new space will increase car storage by 8,250 spaces. GPA also plans to add a new cross-terminal road linking the three vessel berths, as well as a new access road between the docks and the island’s south side. These improvements will offer a more direct route to existing auto processing lots and new development on the south end of the terminal.

“Our ability to expand capacity on Colonel’s Island is unmatched in the U.S.” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. “The strength of our ports is a result of the incredible team that makes it all possible – the GPA staff and International Longshoremen’s Association, the on-terminal auto processors, our thousands of loyal customers, and, of course, the support we receive from elected leadership throughout the state.”

The new dockside expansion will also double GPA’s rail capacity and give Brunswick the ability to build up 10,000-foot long unit trains on terminal. These longer trains make direct service over greater distances more attractive to Brunswick’s Class I rail roads, CSX and Norfolk Southern. This will allow the Port of Brunswick to expand service in markets west of the Mississippi River and into the American Midwest. Vehicles crossing the Brunswick docks are already moving west in significant numbers, with 16,000 units sent to California from Brunswick and more than 4,500 to Texas during FY2018.

By 2019, the GPA will have added 250 acres, for a total of 550 acres of leasable space for auto processing at Colonel’s Island Terminal. Current annual capacity in Brunswick is more than 800,000 units. GPA’s plan is to utilize an additional 400 acres to bring annual throughput capacity to 1.5 million vehicles in the coming years.

“By tonnage, Brunswick is already the second busiest Ro/Ro port in the nation, behind only Baltimore,” said Lynch. “As business grows to fill our expanding terminal, the Port of Brunswick will play an even larger role on the global trade in vehicles and heavy equipment.”

In other news, forest products crossing the docks at Mayor’s Point Terminal in Brunswick increased by 34.5 percent in FY2018, up 35,953 tons, for a total of 138,653 tons. Bulk cargo handled by terminal operator Logistec at East River Terminal totaled 1 million tons in the fiscal year ended in June, up 11 percent, or 101,000 tons. Of GPA’s total Roll-on/Roll-off trade, Brunswick moved more than 590,500 units, or 1.25 million tons and flat growth for the fiscal year.

Lynch also released new economic data from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business showing a 20 percent increase in Brunswick-area jobs supported by port activity. The Port of Brunswick now sustains 10,800 jobs across Glynn, Camden, Brantley, Wayne, Long and McIntosh counties. That is an increase of more than 1,800 jobs since 2014, according to the UGA economic impact study. Major industries across the six-county area include the manufacture of paper and forest products, agriculture, and auto processing. Statewide, port activity supports 440,000 jobs and $25 billion in annual income for Georgians.

“Our success translates into more jobs and greater prosperity for the communities surrounding our terminals, and for the state of Georgia as a whole,” Allgood told those gathered for the event. “As we make the preparations necessary to grow our cargo capacity at the Port of Brunswick, we anticipate economic opportunities will also expand.”

See a summary of Executive Director Griff Lynch’s presentation at www.gaports.com/stateoftheport. Find print-quality images of port operations here. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com.

SAVANNAH, Ga., Oct. 17, 2018 – The Georgia Ports Authority achieved a 12 percent increase in containerized trade at the Port of Savannah in September, along with a 37.6 percent increase in roll-on/roll-off trade at the Port of Brunswick.

Marking 23 consecutive months of growth, the Port of Savannah handled 364,090 twenty-foot equivalent container units last month, an increase of nearly 39,000 TEUs over September 2017. GPA ended the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2019 (July-September) with 1.1 million TEUs handled. The performance was good for 10.8 percent growth (109,164 TEUs) compared to the first quarter of FY2018.

At the Port of Brunswick, automotive and heavy equipment units increased by 13,811 in September for a total of 50,515 units.

“From exports to imports, autos and machinery units to containerized goods, our ports are firing on all cylinders,” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. “Our success is the result of always looking out on the horizon for what’s coming next.”

Cargo moving by rail at the 1,200-acre Garden City Terminal continues to outpace Savannah’s overall TEU growth, expanding by 35 percent in September and 30 percent for the fiscal year to date, on volumes of 41,183 and 131,819 containers, respectively.

To take on more rail business, the GPA has started construction on what will become the largest on-terminal rail facility for a port in North America. The Mason Mega Rail Terminal will start to come online in 2019, with full completion in 2020. Able to accommodate 10,000-foot long unit trains, the rail yard will help increase Savannah’s intermodal market by making direct service over longer distances more cost effective for rail providers Norfolk Southern and CSX.

Lynch said the additional business is related in part to on-terminal infrastructure expansions, as well as private investment in warehousing and logistics services in Georgia.

“New cranes, additional space and expanded truck gates at our terminals, as well as booming private industrial development are not only improving efficiency for existing customers, but drawing new port users to Georgia,” Lynch said.

Find print-quality images of port operations here. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com.

GPA UNVEILS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

Savannah, Ga. – September 20, 2018 – At the Savannah State of the Port event today, GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch thanked Governor Deal for his leadership and detailed GPA’s 10-year, $2.5 billion plan to expand the capacity of the nation’s fastest growing and single largest container terminal from 5.5 million twenty-foot equivalent unit containers (TEUs) to 8 million.

“We’re preparing to redefine the Port of Savannah as not simply the load center for the Southeastern U.S., but as the port of choice for major inland markets east of the Mississippi River,” Lynch said.

During his presentation to nearly 1,400 people, including Gov. Deal, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, Congressman Buddy Carter, other elected officials and business leaders from across the state and nation, Lynch detailed projects that include the Mason Mega Rail facility, which will double the Port of Savannah’s rail capacity to 1 million lifts per year by 2020; new equipment purchases including eight additional ship-to-shore cranes and 64 additional rubber-tired gantry cranes; gate and container storage expansions, berth improvements and off terminal road additions.

“Almost eight years ago, Gov. Nathan Deal established a goal to make Georgia the best state in the nation to do business by providing state government, business leaders and our ports what they needed to make that happen,” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. He noted that since Governor Deal took office in 2011, the Port of Savannah has grown by 45 percent or an additional 1.2 million TEUs; the harbor deepening project has been approved and is now 50 percent complete; and, state transportation improvements like the Jimmy Deloach Parkway ensure that cargo moves more efficiently and without delay.

In just the past year, GPA handled a record 4.2 million TEUS, for an impressive 8.4% increase, or 325,000 additional units. Intermodal rail lifts surged to 435,000, an increase of 16.1%, or more than 60,000 additional moves, another GPA record.

Industrial Development

Lynch expressed thanks for the leadership provided by state and local economic development authorities for helping to land 29 port-related projects in Fiscal Year 2018, bringing more than $1 billion in investment and 4,741 jobs to Georgia.

“Industries are drawn to Georgia by its growing population, economic energy and its superior connectivity to important centers of production and commerce,” Deal said. “Companies that ship through Georgia’s ports benefit from superior road and rail infrastructure, and more global container services than any other port on the U.S. East Coast.”

Over the past year, Lynch said, the Savannah market has seen record private investment in industrial real estate. In FY2018, developers added more than 6 million square feet of industrial space, according to Collier’s International. The area’s vacancy rate was still only one half of one percent by the end of the year. Strong market demand has resulted in an unprecedented 9.75 million square feet currently under construction.

Bigger Ships, Deeper Harbor

Work on the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) is expected to be finished in late 2021. “Thanks to Governor Deal’s leadership, U.S. Senator Isakson and Perdue, Congressman Buddy Carter and the entire Georgia delegation, the construction project is fully funded this year,” said Lynch.

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study estimates the deepening’s net benefit in transportation savings for shippers and consumers at $282 million per year. The expected total savings to the nation over the course of 50 years is $14.1 billion. For every dollar spent on construction, the project will return 7.3 dollars to the nation’s economy through savings on cargo transportation – one of the largest returns on investment on a navigation project for taxpayers in the country.

As deeper water allows larger vessels to call on the Port of Savannah, the GPA, along with its state partners, will be examining future infrastructure requirements, including air draft capacity of the Talmadge Bridge. Although no such vessels currently call on the US East Coast, the port could handle some vessels up to 19,000 TEU capacity.

YES Program

“At the GPA, we are not only focused on expanding capacity on and off our terminals, but we are committed to finding, training and retaining the next generation of port professionals,” Lynch said.

Lynch unveiled GPA’s new workforce development initiative, the Youth learning Equipment and Safety program, or YES, created to hire and train high school graduates for careers in the port industry. The new hires will shadow experienced workers and learn forklift, truck and container equipment operations. The first six employees hired through the program were referred to GPA by school administrators after taking classes and expressing interest in a logistics career.

“Through our YES program, we are hiring promising young people who are ready to get to work,” Lynch said. “In today’s market, we have to do more than search for qualified applicants – we have to be willing to train the workers we need. Maintaining a well-qualified workforce is critical to remaining competitive.”

Allgood said the enhanced employee training policy places the GPA in a leadership role among the nation’s ports. “At Georgia Ports, we’re setting the right example by creating opportunities for young people to enter a career that will allow them to support themselves and their families over the long term,” Allgood said.

“The young people joining GPA today will be able to learn from the best in the business as they find their niche within our operation,” said Lise Altman, GPA’s Senior Director of Human Resources. “We hope to increase the number of high school graduates hired through the YES program next year. Those who are interested in taking part should reach out to their school administrators for more information.”

See a summary of Executive Director Griff Lynch’s presentation at www.gaports.com/stateoftheport. Find print-quality images of port operations here. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com.

“A strengthening economy and a greater reliance on GPA in major inland markets is driving growth at the Port of Savannah,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. “We expect this trend to continue as more customers take advantage of Garden City Terminal’s central location and efficient terminal operations.”

For example, in August alone, rail cargo to and from Atlanta leapt by 34 percent, while Nashville saw an increase of 72 percent.

During a meeting of the Georgia Ports Authority Board of Directors in Atlanta on Monday, the GPA approved $92 million for the Mason Mega Rail Terminal. The project will double the Port of Savannah’s annual rail capacity to 1 million containers and deliver the largest on-terminal rail facility in North America by 2020.

“It is no accident the GPA is constructing rail capacity as the demand for rail is growing,” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. “As part of our strategic planning two years ago, our team identified the growing role intermodal cargo would play in GPA’s long-term success and put into place this plan for expansion.”

The work approved by the board Monday includes 124,000 feet of new track, 88 automated switches and rail control devices, as well as the rail and power infrastructure to support the operation of rail-mounted gantry cranes.

The added rail capacity will better accommodate 10,000-foot long unit trains on Garden City Terminal. These more cost-effective trains will provide faster, more frequent service over greater distances. This will extend the territory best served by the Port of Savannah along an arc of cities ranging from Memphis to St. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati.

Find print-quality images of port operations here. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com.

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APPALACHIAN REGIONAL PORT TO SERVE FOUR-STATE REGION

Gov. Nathan Deal, center, cuts a ribbon during the Grand Opening of the Appalachian Regional Port near Chatsworth, Ga., Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Improved rail access to the area has led to increased interest from manufacturers and logistics services. The inland terminal will be operated by the Georgia Ports Authority and served by CSX. Find print quality images here. Learn more about the Appalachian Regional Port here.(Georgia Ports Authority / Stephen B. Morton)

CHATSWORTH, Ga., Aug. 22, 2018 – Gov. Nathan Deal, state officials and more than 350 business and civic leaders were on hand today to officially open the Appalachian Regional Port (ARP) in Northwest Georgia.

“The Appalachian Regional Port is a powerful new gateway to the Port of Savannah that extends the efficiencies of Georgia’s superior port operations to new markets,” Deal said. “It will also serve as an economic development magnet, drawing business and industry to the Southeast U.S.”

Located in Murray County, the new state-of-the-art facility will provide logistics solutions for customers in a four-state region and remove an estimated 50,000 trucks and 15 million truck miles from local highways every year.

“The ARP is part of our Network Georgia initiative that brings services from the coast to communities around the state,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. “The new inland terminal will provide the same, superior quality services our customers have come to rely on: congestion-free, easy access, expedited handling and reliability.”

Through intermodal rail service from CSX, the Appalachian Regional Port offers customers across North Georgia, Northeast Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky a more efficient option to move cargo to and from Savannah’s container port.

“Our job at Georgia’s ports is very simple – to build, operate and maintain the very best infrastructure and services in the maritime industry. And, the ARP will be another example of this commitment,” Allgood said. “We appreciate the governor’s support for the ARP and other projects that have helped to make our ports what they are today. Gov. Deal knows what it takes to make Georgia the No. 1 state in the nation to do business.”

Handling both import and export containers, CSX will provide service on a direct, 388-mile rail route to and from the Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal.

“CSX is proud to serve regional customers through the ARP, which will unlock new economic opportunities while lowering shipping costs,” said Dean Piacente, vice president of CSX intermodal sales and marketing. “We applaud the vision and leadership of Governor Deal and the Georgia Ports Authority, as they drive Georgia forward in ways that will benefit both businesses and consumers.”

The new rail terminal will be worked by three electric rubber-tired gantry cranes. Each has a lift capacity greater than 40 tons and, working together, can handle 100,000 container lifts per year.

Murray County is a Tier 1 area, meaning special incentives are available to job creators who locate there. More direct and economical access to the second busiest port on the East Coast will make Murray County more attractive to those involved in site selection.

“The Appalachian Regional Port is a great example of how the GPA is investing in rural Georgia, and not forgetting how that can play into the growing economic strength of the state,” Deal said.

Illya Copeland, executive director of the Murray County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), said the area offers prime locations for manufacturing and logistics development near the inland port. “Murray County features 16 sites offering more than 1,500 acres of developable land, most of which can support multiple developments,” Copeland said. “Of the 1,500 acres, 258 acres are rail-front property.”

He said the IDA bought a 382-acre tract in January, and is closing on two port-related projects in the park already.

Other benefits of the Appalachian Regional Port include:

Sits on 42 acres adjacent to U.S. 411 and features easy access to Interstate 75.

Will serve as a close, convenient and cost-effective source of empty containers for manufacturers across the region, offering significant savings on repositioning equipment for exports.

Each round-trip container moved via the ARP offsets 710 truck miles on Georgia highways.

What customers are saying:

Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods

Claire GettyChief Financial Officer

With the Appalachian Regional Port, we will be able to source the empty containers. Also, it’s the same distance from us by truck, but it is closer to the Port of Savannah than Nashville. Cutting that much rail off and keeping the same drayage, we see it as a win. We see it as an opportunity to move as much as we can through the Appalachian Regional Port.

The Atlas GroupKevin McKoneVice President, Sales and Marketing

We’re excited it’s coming to the community. I think it will shorten the time it takes to get the container in the door, open it up and start selling it.

Find print-quality images of port operations here. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com.